Fire damages Seneca business

A Seneca business has temporarily closed its doors following a Friday morning fire.

Whitney Saporito

SENECA —A Seneca business has temporarily closed its doors following a Friday morning fire.

Picket Fence Flea Market, located at 1050 Cherokee Ave., was left with smoke damage and minimal water damage, after a fire broke out before 10 a.m. on Friday, according to business co-owner Sheilah Hill.

Hill and her husband, Rocky, who have managed the flea market for more than 10 years, have approximately 50 vendors selling at their flea market, she said.

Hill said the fire, which damaged both the main and second story, was started by unique circumstances.

She said the fire started from the sun shining into the business window, where a glass terrarium birdcage was sitting on display, near magnifying glasses and a decades old train set.

"The sun hit it just right," Hill said.

She said the Seneca Fire Department responded to the fire, and were able to determine the cause by watching the surveillance tape.

The flea market opens at 10 a.m. daily, and had not yet opened for business when the fire started.

Hill said if hadn't been for the help of a neighbor and a passerby, the fire damage could have been much worse.

While the bottom story and some of the second story house the flea market, the second story also has three apartments, all of which are occupied.

Hill said the apartment tenants have left their apartments while the leftover mess is being cleaned, though they are expected to be able to move back in.

The business will also be re-opening.

"We will be opening up just as soon as possible," Hill said. "Everything got smoke damage. Most vendors have already got their stuff and are cleaning it."

She said once the smoke and water damage have been cleaned, the vendors will be allowed to move back in.